Biola University Opens $75 Million Film Studio in La Mirada

NEW LANDMARK: Biola University’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts features a striking modern design with expansive glass walls and distinctive gold-colored architectural columns. Courtesy Biola University.

October 26, 2026

LA MIRADA — Biola University celebrated the opening of its new $75 million film studio facility Oct. 15, marking a major expansion of its Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts and bringing professional-level filmmaking technology to its La Mirada campus.

The three-story, 45,463-square-foot building features a 3,000-square-foot soundstage, the 285-seat Dyer Theatre, editing suites, writers’ rooms, a game design laboratory, motion-capture technology and professional audio production facilities.

The project was made possible through private donations, including a major contribution from Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, owner and president of In-N-Out Burger. The school is named in honor of her grandmother, Esther L. Snyder, who co-founded the restaurant chain with her husband, Harry Snyder, in 1948.

The Snyder family’s contribution also established the In-N-Out Burger Scholars Fund, which provides annual scholarships for at-risk and foster youth pursuing careers in filmmaking.

“Our new studio facility represents Biola’s dedication to the highest level of media education and investment in the next generation of storytellers,” Tom Halleen, founding dean of the Snyder School, said.

Halleen, a former AMC Networks executive who helped launch television series including Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, said the facility will provide students with the technical and creative skills necessary to succeed in the entertainment industry.

The new building includes professional color grading and audio mixing suites, eight private editing rooms, a Foley recording stage, costume and makeup rooms, and displays of Hollywood memorabilia.

The Dyer Theatre features 4K projection and Dolby Atmos surround sound and will accommodate film screenings, university classes, industry discussions and student productions.

Biola began offering radio, television and film courses in 1977 and established the Snyder School in 2018. The program now enrolls more than 450 students and produces more than 500 student projects annually.

The university reports that all students in the program secure industry internships, with graduates working at major entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Pixar and Sony Pictures.

“Biola has had an enduring commitment to educating students to be transformative voices within the cultural sphere of media and entertainment,” university President Barry H. Corey said.

The building broke ground in September 2024 and opened for classes Aug. 31, ahead of the October dedication ceremony.

Biola, founded in 1908, serves more than 5,600 students through its Southern California campus and other programs.